THE TEMPEST Gets A New “Story” Featurette

Walt Disney Studios has released the new featurette, “Story,” for Julie Taymor’s THE TEMPEST. 2010 marks the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.”

Academy Award®–winner Helen Mirren is no stranger to Shakespearean film adaptations, having starred in many for both film and television, but, thanks to Julie Taymor’s vision, this is the first time Mirren will play a lead character whose gender was changed from the original play, allowing her to define the classic role from a whole new perspective.

Synopsis:

In her big-screen adaptation of Shakespeare’s mystical thriller THE TEMPEST, Academy Award-nominated Julie Taymor (ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, FRIDA, TITUS) brings an original dynamic to the story by changing the gender of the sorcerer Prospero into the sorceress Prospera, portrayed by Oscar winner Helen Mirren (THE QUEEN). Prosper’s journey spirals through vengeance to forgiveness as she reigns over a magical island, cares for her young daughter, Miranda, and unleashes her powers against shipwrecked enemies in this exciting, masterly mix of romance, tragicomedy and the supernatural.

THE TEMPEST is Julie Taymor’s second big-screen Shakespeare film adaptation. TITUS ANDRONICUS was her first, which became her 1999 film TITUS, starring Anthony Hopkins.

The drama/fantasy will be in theaters on December 10, 2010 in New York and Los Angeles AND December 17th, 2010 in limited expansion. From Touchstone Pictures and Miramax Films, visit the film’s official site here, on Facebook here, and on Twitter here